One Congressman, Rand Paul, the GOP and What Ails American Politics

National Journal ^ | Ron Fournier

[JohnPDuncan]

“I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it,” Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia griped over lunch last month at the GOP-run Capitol Hill Club. “All I did was agree to fly aboard Air Force One and talk to the president and for that I got …”

“Hammered,” said Chris Connelly, chief of staff to the Republican lawmaker. “Hammered,” repeated Rigell. “Hammered by my own people.”

Before we could finish our conversation about the dangers of moderation in modern-day politics, Rigell’s cell phone vibrated on the white-clothed table. “It’s Rand Paul,” he said, jumping up from his chair to take a scheduled call from the tea party star, a freshman senator from Kentucky. “Hello, senator,” Rigell said, walking away from our table for privacy. “Can we talk guns?”

I didn’t know it at the time but I had happened to catch Rigell at his career’s most important hour, precisely as he sought to extricate himself from a political vise. On the federal budget and guns, Rigell stayed true to his conservative roots but had the uncommon audacity to insist upon facts, reason and common sense.

And for that, he was punished.

Trouble began for Rigell in late February when he received an invitation from the White House to fly aboard Air Force One and attend an event in his district. President Obama planned to discuss the effects of so-called sequestration cuts, his latest attempt to blame the budget standoff on Rigell’s party.

[marktwain]

“We are in a cultural war. Rigell took tea with Musselinni and thought he would get away with it. Now he’s whining because Rand Paul won’t pull his fat out of the fire. Rand Paul knows we are at war.”

Now if we can just convince Rand that giving the other side 9 million more troops through an amnesty is a bad idea...

[JoeFromSidney]

So far as I know, the National Association for Gun Rights is a paper organization. No members. At least I don't know any, and I'm very active in gun rights organizations. Nor have they made any attempt to recruit me.

I'm not impressed when someone says they have NAGR backing. It sounds like the old American Hunters and Shooters Association, which was a labor-union-funded outfit intended to scam union members who were also gun owners into voting for left-wing candidates.

[JohnPDuncan]

They have something like a million people on facebook so they must be something. I also like Gun Owners of America which is Larry Pratt’s organization. The NRA has sold out numerous times before but GOA never does. Please consider becoming a member.

[DouglasKC]

Oh golly gee...the poor man is in bed with Obama who is attempting to destroy the country. Poor guy.

[SunkenCiv]

• ...by softening its edge on some volatile social issues and altering its image as the party always seemingly "eager to go to war... We do need to expand the party and grow the party and that does mean that we don't always all agree on every issue" ... the party needs to become more welcoming to individuals who disagree with basic Republican doctrine on emotional social issues such as gay marriage... "We're going to have to be a little hands off on some of these issues ... and get people into the party," Paul said. [Rand Paul: Time for GOP to soften [immigration, gay marriage] stance]

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• One day after announcing on his radio show that he is "truly considering" running in 2014 for the U.S. Senate seat now held by New Jersey's Frank Lautenberg, Rivera amped up his message today in a television interview and a column on the Fox News Latino website... a moderate Republican who is fiscally conservative but also supports gay marriage and Roe v. Wade... [Geraldo Rivera declares himself a 'moderate Republican' as he eyes U.S. Senate run]

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